Ice Age Trail Dispatch
May 2013
Our First Sunday Hike is this Sunday, May 5
Join us on our first "Sunday Hike" of the season, this Sunday afternoon, May 5. We'll meet at the Chippewa Moraine Interpretive Center at 1 PM.
JoAnn Parks is our hike leader, and she's excited to see the effect of this freak late-season snowfall on the trail. We're not likely to see the usual wildflowers, but it should be interesting to see just what we will see, as much of the trail has only had a week of exposure to the sun (or less!) before this latest snowfall.
Bring along good water-resistant footwear, water (to drink), a snack, and plan for possible ticks (they are bound to be hungry).
Trail Improvement Day, Saturday, May 18
We have a variety of trail cleanup and repair projects to accomplish at our May 18 workday, and we'd love to have you join the fun. We did a pretty good job on the west end of the trail just a week ago (under rather adverse conditions), but the east end is calling out for equal time. The big task is patrolling and removing downed trees and branches which have accumulated since fall. It's great fun, and just being out and working in the woods is its own reward.
If you can join us, please send an email to the chapter so we know what to expect and we can make your time worthwhile (we can also notify you if there are any changes, like unexpected blizzards, for example).
Bring work gloves and expect to encounter lots of ticks. Also bring your lunch and water.
Chapter Meets Monday, May 20
The Chippewa Moraine Chapter meets on Monday, May 20, at 6:30 PM at the Chippewa Falls Library. It's time to put finishing touches on our National Trails Day event and other late spring maintenance, as well as share some of the training in first aid, chain saw, and food preparation training that many of us have been engaged in during the past few weeks.
Our corridor planning is doubling down on a lot of activity in the coming months, and we will explain how our members can help with the project, including attending public meetings to help explain what the trail is about and show that it is important to them.
Volunteer Hours
We're wrapping up our volunteer hours reports for the first half of the year, so if you've done any individual trail or Alliance work beyond what we do together as a group, whether it be on the trail or in a supportive or advocacy role, please send your reports in as soon as possible. Your time counts in many ways.
Membership
Not only does volunteer time make a difference, but so does your membership in the Alliance. Thank you for your continued membership suppport. As you enjoy the trail with friends this spring, take a moment to offer your friends an opportunity to support what they are enjoying by being members themselves. They can join online at www.iceagetrail.org, or there is an informative membership brochure you can give them. The benefits of membership are endless.